Coin-controlling device



May 8, 1928.

B. L. FRY

COIN CONTROLLING DEVICE INVENTOR A'X TORNEY v 26 ezy'arrzz'rz BY 71% j Filed Sept. 17, 1926 May 8, 1928. 1,668,894

B. L. FRY

COIN CONTROLLING DEVICE ,Filed Sept. 17, 1926 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 7Q a N j v )3 A I I (RNLY Patented May 8, 1928.

' v UNITED? STATES 1 1,668,894 PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN L. FRY, 01: ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL SALES MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OI MISSOURI.

I COIN-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Application filed September 17, 192%. Serial 110,136,173.

This invention relates to a coin controlling device having a small number of parts to effect a large number of different functional operations. The usual counterfeit tokens commonly employed to fraudulently operate various coin controlling machines are round disks of metal of a size approximating the slot in the apparatus, and either of iron, copper, or brass, which is commonly l0 easily found either as waste in the form of metal punchings from factories, or bought cheap, as iron, copper, or brass washers, or round imperforateslugs of a size suitable to enter a slot machine. My invention resides in so designing the apparatus asto reject any of these cheap or waste products which might be readily available for dishonest use, by selective mechanism which will prevent them from going into a receptacle intended only to receive a proper coin. I effect this result by combined means which casts off all coins or disks made of magnetic material and also all washers regardless of what materials they are made, and in addition, all coins, disks, or washers being smaller in diameter than that of the proper'coin, permitting only legitimate coins of proper dimensions to be delivered to the .desired receptacle. For example, one of these selective influences is a permanent magnet so located, in accordance with one of my prior applications, as to deflect a coin of magnetic character with certainty, and prevent the same from traveling in the path designed for legitimate coins.

Another feature of my invention involves checking the speed of a, coin as it passes along the coin chute and providing means by which it willl be tilted by gravity by reason of an inclination of the coin chute away fromthe vertical plane.

A third feature 'fconsists in, ejecting through another lateral gate all washers re-- gardless of what kind of materials they are made, most of which are a standard product and easily accessible on the market. To accompllsh this I provide a rotatable toothed sprocket wheel with its radial teeth in the 'planeof the coin channel, by which a washer is caught b a tooth through its central opening an by reason of the momentum of the washer rotatesthe wheel and tosses the washer through an opening in. the side of the apparatus, With a legitimate coin, hewevsr, t e p oeket teeth have no further cover removed.

effect than to lift the legitimatecoin, whose momentum sweeps it along and in an independent path of the coin channel to drop finally into a proper coin receptacle.-

My invention, therefore, consists of acoiIi controlhng device embodying a plurality of ejecting instrumcntalities to prevent im-- proper slugs or disks of metal of the same or less diameter, whether perforated or plain, from passing into the legtimate coin chute.

The several features of the invention will be more particularlyvdescribed in the accom-- 'panylng specification and the claims definitely indicated in the appended claims."

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention:

' Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is a view with the front removed to illustrate the .coin chute and its action on a coin under varying conditions.

Figure 3 is an end elevation showing the manner I prefer to use in mounting my device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the plane 4- 1 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the plane 5-5 of Figure 1. I

Figure \6 is a similar view of Figure 5 under varying conditions.

Figure 7 is a sectional view in a horizontal plane on the line 77of Figure 1.

Figures 8 and 9 are similar detached views under varyin conditions.

Figure '10 1s an elevation of a modified form. a Figure 11 is an edge view' of the same. Figure 12 is a view of Figure 10 with .Figure 13 is a sectionallongitudinal view of Figure 10 on plane 13-13 showing discharge magnetic material.

Figure 14 is a sectional view' on plane a small coin.

Figure 15 is a transverse sectional viewon v plane 15-15showing discharge of a washer.

Figure 16 is a sectional view. on plane 16-16of Figure 10 showing the sprocket engaging a washer.-

Figure 17 is a sectional view on plane 17-17 of Figure 10 showingwasher or coin .delivered in separate channels.

' Referring now in particular to the drawings, the frame of the apparatus is composed of a plurality of flat angular sections. The coin chute is formed of a metal casting 1 with a longitudinal recess capable of permitting transit of coins, and two superposed plates 2 and 3 latched and secured together by set screws 4, 5. This central member 1 is of thicker section than the side sections and is routed out with a longitudinal recess to provide a coin chute and abutments to act as spacers for the side plate 3, with an integral projecting wedge-shaped lug 6 to lock in position a horseshoe permanent magnet 7 when spanned by the abutment and in alignment with a lug 8 against which one pole of the magnet abuts. At the top of the member is a rightangled projection 9 integral with it, which permits the coin controlled device to be mounted securely by screws, clamps, or otherwise, in a tilting or inclined position, as shown in Figure 3. When the channeled member and side plates are united by the set screws referred to there is a continuous coin chute for legitimate coins through from, the top to the bottom. In the lower portion of the apparatus is rotatably mounted a toothed wheel sprocket 10 or a rotative toothed sprocket mounted on a pivot. This is supported in a hood 11 having a rightangled base 12 to dicated at 13, 13', or a deflecting action to effect a selective action as at 15 in Figure 9, and at 15 in Figure 8, and 24 1n Figure .5, all of which sloping walls have an Important function in assisting discharge ofa boguf coin or in promoting a selective action to' lead a good or bogus coin in difl'erent paths. In the case of the sprocket tooth Wheel the teeth are the positive selective factor, but the shape of the edges adjacent facilitate an easier coin travel and thus aid functioning. In the case of an undersized coin the provision of the beveled edge 24 together with the tilt of the chute promote ejection and the coin dwells on the slope 24, rocks it out ward and discharges. It will be noted from the drawings that Figure 5 shows a clear opening for ejection of the undersized coin and, as this is on the opposite wall from the illustrated travel of Figure 2, some confusion may arise. However, in Figure 1 the side containing the ejection opening shows the coin in full lines as distinguished from the dotted position in Fi ure 2.

Themagnet 7 which induences a magnetic counterfeit slug is fixed in such a position that only its lower pole approximates the path of a coin introduced through a slot ,at

' described.

the top of the chute. The magnet is fixed in position over a wedge-shaped support 18 and when assembled is firmly locked against movement with its upper limb bearing against a non-magnetic wall which diverts a magnetic coin from contactwith the upper pole; therefore, in falling through the chute the coin approximates a sloping edge of the lower pole and if magnetic is drawn thereto so it will slide or roll along the under side until it approaches the neutral point of the magnet which will be at a point below a vertical wall, and the magnetic pull at this point would be insuflicient to overcome the weight of the slug, in which case it will drop and be discharged. As shown in Figure 2 the path of a magnetic slug 19 is shown under deflection in dotted positions, in position to be discharged from the chute; the several discharge openings are numbered with an exponent. Such discharge is indicated in enlarged section in Figure 4. If, however, an undersized coin is introduced in the entrance of the coin chute it will be uninfluenced bythe magnet and will drop vertically as indicated by the dotted circle 20 and will rebound to the rear wall of the chute and be diverted and checked in speed, when it will roll slowly on a sloping wall on a tilted plane, as indicated in Figure 3, thus causing it to lean outward as indicated in Figure 5 and be discharged as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5. When a legitimate coin is introduced into the coin chute it will traverse the chute through its several angles until reaching the sprocket tooth wheel 10, when it will be diverted by the tooth of the sprocket as indicated at 15 to the legitimate coin path of discharge. Now if a non-magnetic washer is introduced into the coin chute it will traverse the same until reaching the sprocket tooth wheel when it will be engaged byv a tooth of the same, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, and under its gravitati'ng influence will tilt the sprocket and carry it forward, as indicated in Figure 8, into an independent path where it will be discharged.

Referring now to Figures 10 to 17, similar parts inthis modification are numbered correspondingly to similar parts in the figures hereinbefore described. As seen, the permanent magnet 7 is fixed in an inclined position with the neutral point lowermost and with its one pole in the path of a dropping coin, similarly to the action already This magnet is locked by a lug 32 spanning its poles and secured by a washer 31. In all the figures I have lettered the bogus coins and the legitimate coins and the undersized coins by numerals, and I have correspondingly numbered the discharge passages of the different magnetic and non-magnetic coins, washers and disks.

The different metallic disks constituting delivery openings are indicated with sim1- vweasel.

coins and counterefeit coins are given a numeral indication and their corresponding lar numerals with an exponent a.. The sprocket tooth'wheel is located in front a diaphragm separating the legitimate coln path from the path of washers. At this point there is also provided a switch 111 the track of the coin path, as shown in Fi ures 7 8 and 9,.

igures 10 to 17 embody a modified-form of my invention which is capable of less width and with a double angular path in the coin chute, thereby locating the sprocket tooth wheel in an ad'acen't sloping tilted path for the coins, t ereby reducin the width of the device. However, the re ative position of a sprocket tooth wheel may be placed anywhere in the coin path. At the top of the apparatus-is supported the permanent magnet with its neutral-point downward in a similar mannerto Figure 1 but looked position by a set screw and washer bridging a lug of a side wall 29. The magne't will discard a magnetic bogus coin at a point somewhere near the neutral point, as shown in Figures 2, 4, 11 and 13. The apparatus shown in these figures operates in precisely the same manner as already described in connection with the other figures,

sdifierin g only in theshape of the device.-

The action on the respective coins will be clear .from an inspection of the several fig ures, the several coins being iven numeral characters corresponding to t eii character as indicated in the preceding figures. -Fo'r example, 19- throughout indicates a slug or counterfeit mm of magnetic material,. 27 represents a legitimate coin, 28 is a washer, and is an undersized coin.

As seen in'Figure 10, the magnet is supported by a lug 32, a spanning washer 31 anda set screw 30, the neutral oint of the magnet being downward. In alling into the coin chute the disk is in close prox-.

imity to the lower pole of the permanent 'magnet and 1 if of magnetic character is magnet drops vertical] case of the dotted circ es 27,28 ,'and will I along the same unti netism is insufiicient to hold ltand, as shown drawn to the magnet lpole and rolls or slides the weakening mag in'Figure 12, it is dischar ed from the apparatus; a non-ma netic ogus coin or a real coin, however, ing unattracted by the as shown in' the descend to the sprocket tooth wheel and be delivered accordingly as it is a legitimate coin or a spurious washer into separate receptacles in a manner similar to that already described. It will be apparent, therefore, that the functional operations are identical in the form. shown in Figures 10 to '1 with that in the other figures.

I have herein described my invention-in its best embodiment I have hitherto been able to provide, but I would have it understood that equivalent means for accomplishing the several functions I secure, may be employed withinthe scope of my invention and are only limited by the terms of my appended claims.

.Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-..

ters Patent is:

1. A coin controlling device having a pivoted sprocket toothed wheel with its teeth adapted to. engage a coin traversing the coin chute and rotatable under the momentum of a coin, and-two paths below the sprocket toothed wheel, one for coins and the other for washers, whereby a coin will travel in the coin path and a washer will be hooked by a tooth of the sprocket toothed. wheel and be diverted to the washer path.

2. A coin controlled device comprising a gravitative path for a coin placed-in the coin opening, and a discriminating rotatable toothed'ejector mountedfor rotation in av vertical plane and rojecting into the coin path, said ejector a apted to hook and discash box.

' 3. 'A coin controlled device com risin a i In testimony whereof I- afiiir my signer.

ture.

BENJAMIN L. FRY. f

00 charge washers in one path and divert legit imate coins to another path leading to 'a. 

